• Energy Research
• 14. Life underwater close
• EU close
• Aurora Universities Network close
• Transport Research close

The growth of phytoplankton at high latitudes was generally thought to begin in open waters of the marginal ice zone once the highly reflective sea ice retreats in spring, solar elevation increases, and surface waters become stratified by the addition of sea-ice melt water. In fact, virtually all recent large-scale estimates of primary production in the Arctic Ocean (AO) assume that phytoplankton production in the water column under sea ice is negligible. However, over the past two decades, an emerging literature showing significant under-ice phytoplankton production on a pan-Arctic scale has challenged our paradigms of Arctic phytoplankton ecology and phenology. This evidence, which builds on previous, but scarce reports, requires the Arctic scientific community to change its perception of traditional AO phenology and urgently revise it. In particular, it is essential to better comprehend, on small and large scales, the changing and variable icescapes, the under-ice light field and biogeochemical cycles during the transition from sea-ice covered to ice-free Arctic waters. Here, we provide a baseline of our current knowledge of under-ice blooms (UIBs), by defining their ecology and their environmental setting, but also their regional peculiarities (in terms of occurrence, magnitude, and assemblages), which is shaped by a complex AO. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach, i.e., combining expeditions and modern autonomous technologies, satellite, and modeling analyses, has been used to provide an overview of this pan-Arctic phenological feature, which will become increasingly important in future marine Arctic biogeochemical cycles.

Marine organisms produce a vast diversity of metabolites with biological activities useful for humans, e.g., cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-microbial, insecticidal, herbicidal, anticancer, pro-osteogenic and pro-regenerative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, cholesterol-lowering, nutritional, photoprotective, horticultural or other beneficial properties. These metabolites could help satisfy the increasing demand for alternative sources of nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, food, feed, and novel bio-based products. In addition, marine biomass itself can serve as the source material for the production of various bulk commodities (e.g., biofuels, bioplastics, biomaterials). The sustainable exploitation of marine bio-resources and the development of biomolecules and polymers are also known as the growing field of marine biotechnology. Up to now, over 35,000 natural products have been characterized from marine organisms, but many more are yet to be uncovered, as the vast diversity of biota in the marine systems remains largely unexplored. Since marine biotechnology is still in its infancy, there is a need to create effective, operational, inclusive, sustainable, transnational and transdisciplinary networks with a serious and ambitious commitment for knowledge transfer, training provision, dissemination of best practices and identification of the emerging technological trends through science communication activities. A collaborative (net)work is today compelling to provide innovative solutions and products that can be commercialized to contribute to the circular bioeconomy. This perspective article highlights the importance of establishing such collaborative frameworks using the example of Ocean4Biotech, an Action within the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) that connects all and any stakeholders with an interest in marine biotechnology in Europe and beyond.

AbstractThis contribution to the RECCAP2 (REgional Carbon Cycle Assessment and Processes) assessment analyzes the processes that determine the global ocean carbon sink, and its trends and variability over the period 1985–2018, using a combination of models and observation‐based products. The mean sea‐air CO2 flux from 1985 to 2018 is −1.6 ± 0.2 PgC yr−1 based on an ensemble of reconstructions of the history of sea surface pCO2 (pCO2 products). Models indicate that the dominant component of this flux is the net oceanic uptake of anthropogenic CO2, which is estimated at −2.1 ± 0.3 PgC yr−1 by an ensemble of ocean biogeochemical models, and −2.4 ± 0.1 PgC yr−1 by two ocean circulation inverse models. The ocean also degasses about 0.65 ± 0.3 PgC yr−1 of terrestrially derived CO2, but this process is not fully resolved by any of the models used here. From 2001 to 2018, the pCO2 products reconstruct a trend in the ocean carbon sink of −0.61 ± 0.12 PgC yr−1 decade−1, while biogeochemical models and inverse models diagnose an anthropogenic CO2‐driven trend of −0.34 ± 0.06 and −0.41 ± 0.03 PgC yr−1 decade−1, respectively. This implies a climate‐forced acceleration of the ocean carbon sink in recent decades, but there are still large uncertainties on the magnitude and cause of this trend. The interannual to decadal variability of the global carbon sink is mainly driven by climate variability, with the climate‐driven variability exceeding the CO2‐forced variability by 2–3 times. These results suggest that anthropogenic CO2 dominates the ocean CO2 sink, while climate‐driven variability is potentially large but highly uncertain and not consistently captured across different methods.

AbstractMicrobial rhodopsins are photoreceptor proteins that convert light into biological signals or energy. Proteins of the xanthorhodopsin family are common in eukaryotic photosynthetic plankton including diatoms. However, their biological role in these organisms remains elusive. Here we report on a xanthorhodopsin variant (FcR1) isolated from the polar diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus. Applying a combination of biophysical, biochemical and reverse genetics approaches, we demonstrate that FcR1 is a plastid-localized proton pump which binds the chromophore retinal and is activated by green light. Enhanced growth of a Thalassiora pseudonana gain-of-function mutant expressing FcR1 under iron limitation shows that the xanthorhodopsin proton pump supports growth when chlorophyll-based photosynthesis is iron-limited. The abundance of xanthorhodopsin transcripts in natural diatom communities of the surface oceans is anticorrelated with the availability of dissolved iron. Thus, we propose that these proton pumps convey a fitness advantage in regions where phytoplankton growth is limited by the availability of dissolved iron.

Les données sur la biodiversité et la conservation sont généralement coûteuses à collecter, en particulier dans le domaine marin. Par conséquent, les données collectées pour un objectif scientifique donné sont parfois utilisées pour répondre à des besoins secondaires, tels que la mise en œuvre de politiques ou d'autres types de prise de décision. Cependant, bien que la qualité et l'accessibilité des données sur la biodiversité marine et la conservation se soient améliorées au cours de la dernière décennie, les façons dont ces données peuvent être utilisées pour élaborer et mettre en œuvre des mesures et des actions de gestion et de conservation pertinentes ne sont pas toujours explicites. Pour cette raison, il existe un certain nombre d'ensembles de données scientifiquement solides qui ne sont pas utilisés systématiquement pour éclairer les politiques et les décisions. La transformation de ces ensembles de données sur la biodiversité marine et la conservation en produits de connaissances qui transmettent les informations requises par les décideurs et les décideurs est une étape importante dans le renforcement de l'échange de connaissances à travers l'interface science-politique. Ici, nous identifions sept caractéristiques d'une sélection de produits de connaissances en ligne sur la biodiversité et la conservation qui contribuent à leur capacité à soutenir les politiques et la prise de décision dans le domaine marin (telles que mesurées par exemple par les mentions dans les résolutions/décisions politiques ou l'utilisation pour les rapports dans le cadre de certains instruments politiques ; utilisation dans le filtrage de haut niveau pour les domaines d'importance pour la biodiversité). Ces caractéristiques comprennent : un mandat politique clair ; des réseaux de collaborateurs établis ; la co-conception itérative d'une interface conviviale ; des méthodes normalisées, complètes et documentées avec assurance qualité ; une capacité cohérente et une planification de la relève ; des données accessibles et des produits à valeur ajoutée adaptés à l'objectif ; et des mesures d'utilisation rassemblées et rapportées. Les résultats de cet examen visent à : (a) aider les créateurs/propriétaires/fournisseurs de données à concevoir et à organiser des produits de connaissances sur la biodiversité et la conservation qui ont une plus grande influence, et donc un impact, sur les politiques et la prise de décision, et (b) fournir des recommandations sur la manière dont les décideurs et les décideurs peuvent soutenir le développement, la mise en œuvre et la durabilité de produits robustes de connaissances sur la biodiversité et la conservation à travers l'élaboration de politiques marines et de cadres décisionnels. La recopilación de datos sobre biodiversidad y protección suele ser costosa, especialmente en el ámbito marino. Por lo tanto, los datos recopilados para un propósito dado, a menudo científico, ocasionalmente se contribuyen a necesidades secundarias, como la implementación de políticas u otros tipos de toma de decisiones. Sin embargo, si bien la calidad y la accesibilidad de los datos sobre biodiversidad marina y protección han mejorado en la última década, las formas en que estos datos se pueden utilizar para desarrollar e implementar medidas y acciones de gestión y protección relevantes no siempre son explícitas. Por esta razón, hay una serie de conjuntos de datos científicamente sólidos que no se utilizan sistemáticamente para informar las políticas y las decisiones. Transformar estos conjuntos de datos sobre biodiversidad marina y conservación en productos de conocimiento que transmitan la información requerida por los responsables de la formulación de políticas y la toma de decisiones es un paso importante para fortalecer el intercambio de conocimientos a través de la interfaz ciencia-política. Aquí, identificamos siete características de una selección de productos de conocimiento en línea sobre biodiversidad y conservación que contribuyen a su capacidad para apoyar las políticas y la toma de decisiones en el ámbito marino (según lo medido, por ejemplo, por las menciones en las resoluciones/decisiones de políticas, o el uso para la presentación de informes en virtud de instrumentos de política seleccionados; uso en la detección de alto nivel para áreas de importancia para la biodiversidad). Estas características incluyen: un mandato político claro; redes establecidas de colaboradores; co-diseño iterativo de una interfaz fácil de usar; métodos estandarizados, integrales y documentados con garantía de calidad; capacidad consistente y planificación de sucesión; datos accesibles y productos de valor agregado que son adecuados para el propósito; y métricas de uso cotejadas e informadas. Los resultados de esta revisión tienen como objetivo: (a) apoyar a los creadores/propietarios/proveedores de datos en el diseño y la selección de productos de conocimiento sobre biodiversidad y conservación que tengan mayor influencia y, por lo tanto, impacto en las políticas y la toma de decisiones, y (b) proporcionar recomendaciones sobre cómo los responsables de la toma de decisiones y políticas pueden apoyar el desarrollo, la implementación y la sostenibilidad de productos sólidos de conocimiento sobre biodiversidad y conservación a través de la formulación de políticas marinas y marcos de toma de decisiones. Biodiversity and conservation data are generally costly to collect, particularly in the marine realm. Hence, data collected for a given—often scientific—purpose are occasionally contributed towards secondary needs, such as policy implementation or other types of decision-making. However, while the quality and accessibility of marine biodiversity and conservation data have improved over the past decade, the ways in which these data can be used to develop and implement relevant management and conservation measures and actions are not always explicit. For this reason, there are a number of scientifically-sound datasets that are not used systematically to inform policy and decisions. Transforming these marine biodiversity and conservation datasets into knowledge products that convey the information required by policy- and decision-makers is an important step in strengthening knowledge exchange across the science-policy interface. Here, we identify seven characteristics of a selection of online biodiversity and conservation knowledge products that contribute to their ability to support policy- and decision-making in the marine realm (as measured by e.g. mentions in policy resolutions/decisions, or use for reporting under selected policy instruments; use in high-level screening for areas of biodiversity importance). These characteristics include: a clear policy mandate; established networks of collaborators; iterative co-design of a user-friendly interface; standardised, comprehensive and documented methods with quality assurance; consistent capacity and succession planning; accessible data and value-added products that are fit-for-purpose; and metrics of use collated and reported. The outcomes of this review are intended to: (a) support data creators/owners/providers in designing and curating biodiversity and conservation knowledge products that have greater influence, and hence impact, in policy- and decision-making, and (b) provide recommendations for how decision- and policy-makers can support the development, implementation, and sustainability of robust biodiversity and conservation knowledge products through the framing of marine policy and decision-making frameworks. إن جمع بيانات التنوع البيولوجي والحفظ مكلف بشكل عام، لا سيما في المجال البحري. وبالتالي، فإن البيانات التي يتم جمعها لغرض علمي معين في كثير من الأحيان تساهم أحيانًا في تلبية الاحتياجات الثانوية، مثل تنفيذ السياسات أو أنواع أخرى من صنع القرار. ومع ذلك، في حين تحسنت جودة بيانات التنوع البيولوجي البحري والحفظ وإمكانية الوصول إليها على مدى العقد الماضي، فإن الطرق التي يمكن بها استخدام هذه البيانات لتطوير وتنفيذ تدابير وإجراءات الإدارة والحفظ ذات الصلة ليست واضحة دائمًا. لهذا السبب، هناك عدد من مجموعات البيانات السليمة علميًا التي لا يتم استخدامها بشكل منهجي لإبلاغ السياسات والقرارات. يعد تحويل مجموعات بيانات التنوع البيولوجي البحري والحفظ هذه إلى منتجات معرفية تنقل المعلومات المطلوبة من قبل صانعي السياسات والقرارات خطوة مهمة في تعزيز تبادل المعرفة عبر واجهة العلوم والسياسات. هنا، نحدد سبع خصائص لمجموعة مختارة من المنتجات المعرفية للتنوع البيولوجي والحفظ عبر الإنترنت والتي تساهم في قدرتها على دعم السياسات وصنع القرار في المجال البحري (كما تم قياسها على سبيل المثال بالإشارات في قرارات/مقررات السياسة، أو استخدامها للإبلاغ بموجب أدوات سياسة مختارة ؛ واستخدامها في الفحص رفيع المستوى للمجالات ذات أهمية التنوع البيولوجي). وتشمل هذه الخصائص: تفويض واضح للسياسة ؛ وشبكات راسخة من المتعاونين ؛ وتصميم مشترك تكراري لواجهة سهلة الاستخدام ؛ وأساليب موحدة وشاملة وموثقة مع ضمان الجودة ؛ وتخطيط متسق للقدرات والتعاقب ؛ وبيانات يمكن الوصول إليها ومنتجات ذات قيمة مضافة مناسبة للغرض ؛ ومقاييس الاستخدام التي تم جمعها والإبلاغ عنها. تهدف نتائج هذا الاستعراض إلى: (أ) دعم منشئي/مالكي/مقدمي البيانات في تصميم وتنسيق منتجات معارف التنوع البيولوجي والحفظ التي لها تأثير أكبر، وبالتالي تأثير، في صنع السياسات وصنع القرار، و (ب) تقديم توصيات حول كيفية دعم صانعي القرار والسياسات لتطوير وتنفيذ واستدامة منتجات معرفية قوية للتنوع البيولوجي والحفظ من خلال صياغة السياسات البحرية وأطر صنع القرار.

An Impact Assessment (IA) is a process aimed at structuring and supporting the development of policies. Besides the fact that IA assumes different features when applied to different sectors, really it should help policy makers in evaluating the contribution to the fisheries sustainability of new regulations. The recent improvements and development around the IA methodologies go more and more toward the concept of a Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA). The evolution of IA in the fishery sector has followed the general and increasing need in having a more and more integrated type of analysis, focusing on the three dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic and social). This paper synthesizes the methodology developed under the EU FP7 SOCIOEC project,1 whose main objective was the application of the most recent EU guidelines on IA to the current (and future) EU fishery management. The result is an integrated approach taking into account the main pillars of sustainability and a strong stakeholders’ involvement. A clear step-by-step procedure based on both qualitative and quantitative type of analyses has been defined, the last step being the “rating” phase, an essential step in a SIA, that provides the possibility to assess the results of different policy options (allowing policy makers to select the most appropriate one) in terms of acceptability, effectiveness, coherence and efficiency. The overall methodology has been tested on different EU regions, fisheries and management measures.